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VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR
WINTER SOLDIER ORGANIZATION
London Chapter
(formerly Union of
American Exiles)
2 Turquand Street
London SE17 1LT
United Kingdom
Vietnam Veterans Against the War/Winter
Soldier Organization is the largest
independent mass—based anti-imperialist
organization in America, with over 30,000
members. In November, 1973, the Union of
American Exiles in Britain became the
first WAW/WSO chapter in Europe.
This leaflet explains some of the
history of VVAW/WSO, both locally and
rationally. It also lists our political
objectives, some of the things we do in
Britain, and some of the further
literature available through London
VVAW/WSO.
c
3
WHAT IS VVAW-WSO
Vietnam Veterans Against the War began
in 1967 in New York City when six anti-war
veterans marched in a demonstration under
the banner "Vietnam Veterans Against the
War." This first public action was
followed by many more in the years to
come .
Operation Rapid American Withdrawl
(RAW) was a forced march by 1 50 vets from
Trenton, N. J. to Valley Forge. This
march, in the fall of 1970, was one of the
earliest national VVAW actions. Along the
march route vets conducted mock "search
and destroy" missions, interrogation of
prisoners, and other lessons well learned
in Vietnam. During Operation RAW, the
original objectives
formulated.
of
VVAW
The trial of Lt. Calley was a major
force behind convening the Winter Soldier
Investigation into American War Crimes
«mmitted in Southeast Asia. This
vestigation, held in Detroit in January,
1971, saw over 150 veterans testifying
about war crimes they had committed. The
message to the American people was
clear: My Lai was not an aberration
but the calculated result of American
imperialistic policy in Vietnam. Several
congressional enquiries, a book, and three
documentary movies came out of the WSI.
With the spring of 1971 came Dewey
Canyon III, a limited incursion into the
halls of Congress. Dewey Canyon I and II
had taken place in Southeast Asia without
the knowledge or consent of the American
people; VVAW was now determined to be
heard. For a week, members of VVAW
lobbied with Congressmen, testified in
hearings, performed guerilla theater, and
engaged the people of Washington, D.C. in
a continuous dialogue. On Friday, 1100
vets returned the medals they had been
awarded by the government for military
service. This was the final break, and
the return of the medals signified the
ultimate act of revulsion for what these
medals stood for.
The summer of 1971 saw a general lull
in anti - war activity the country over.
VVAW began to move in a new direction —
into our communities. We began the
process of learning that the war was only
a symptom, that as long as the American
economic structure could profit from the
exploitation of working and third people
at home and around the world, wars like
Vietnam would continue. During all of
this, however, we did not forget about the
war. Christmas, 1971, found 16 members of
VVAW holding the Statue of Liberty
captive. The war was again front page
news.
WAV took part in actions at both the
Democratic and Republican conventions.
Our demonstrations there were both legal
and peaceful. We went to Miami Beach with
the people's most dangerous weapon, the
truth—and to prevent the people from
hearing that truth, the government had to
use spies, infiltrators, and agents to
provoke violence.
When Coronation (inauguration) Day 1973
arrived, VVAW again returned to
Washington. Over 5000 people strong, we
marched, signed the 9 - point peace
agreement with the Vietnamese people, and
returned to our communities.
The signing of the peace treaty by our
government has left us with no illusions
about the future. We were the sailors in
the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964, and there were
brothers and sisters in the military today
who may well be participants in a future
Gulf of Tonkin incident. We have learned
that only a radical change in the system
of this country,can possibly prevent the
wars of the future.
As we learned what was behind the
Vietnam War, and as we went into our
communities to work, we found people who
agreed with our objectives but who were
not veterans (though all Americans are in
fact Vietnam veterans). To broaden our
base of membership, we added "Winter

Vietnam Veterans Against the War/Winter Soldier Organization London Chapter

Publication date

1973

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Digital Format

XML

Publisher-Electronic

Wisconsin Historical Society

Publication Date-Electronic

2016

Rights

Copyright belongs to the individuals who created them or the organizations for which they worked. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. If you believe that you possess copyright to material included here, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org. Under the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright law, teachers and students are free to reproduce any document for nonprofit classroom use. Commercial use of copyright-protected material is generally prohibited.

Copyright belongs to the individuals who created them or the organizations for which they worked. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. If you believe that you possess copyright to material included here, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org. Under the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright law, teachers and students are free to reproduce any document for nonprofit classroom use. Commercial use of copyright-protected material is generally prohibited.

Owner

Brünn, Harris Watts Collection - Ephemera Soldiers Movements

Full text

VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR
WINTER SOLDIER ORGANIZATION
London Chapter
(formerly Union of
American Exiles)
2 Turquand Street
London SE17 1LT
United Kingdom
Vietnam Veterans Against the War/Winter
Soldier Organization is the largest
independent mass—based anti-imperialist
organization in America, with over 30,000
members. In November, 1973, the Union of
American Exiles in Britain became the
first WAW/WSO chapter in Europe.
This leaflet explains some of the
history of VVAW/WSO, both locally and
rationally. It also lists our political
objectives, some of the things we do in
Britain, and some of the further
literature available through London
VVAW/WSO.
c
3
WHAT IS VVAW-WSO
Vietnam Veterans Against the War began
in 1967 in New York City when six anti-war
veterans marched in a demonstration under
the banner "Vietnam Veterans Against the
War." This first public action was
followed by many more in the years to
come .
Operation Rapid American Withdrawl
(RAW) was a forced march by 1 50 vets from
Trenton, N. J. to Valley Forge. This
march, in the fall of 1970, was one of the
earliest national VVAW actions. Along the
march route vets conducted mock "search
and destroy" missions, interrogation of
prisoners, and other lessons well learned
in Vietnam. During Operation RAW, the
original objectives
formulated.
of
VVAW
The trial of Lt. Calley was a major
force behind convening the Winter Soldier
Investigation into American War Crimes
«mmitted in Southeast Asia. This
vestigation, held in Detroit in January,
1971, saw over 150 veterans testifying
about war crimes they had committed. The
message to the American people was
clear: My Lai was not an aberration
but the calculated result of American
imperialistic policy in Vietnam. Several
congressional enquiries, a book, and three
documentary movies came out of the WSI.
With the spring of 1971 came Dewey
Canyon III, a limited incursion into the
halls of Congress. Dewey Canyon I and II
had taken place in Southeast Asia without
the knowledge or consent of the American
people; VVAW was now determined to be
heard. For a week, members of VVAW
lobbied with Congressmen, testified in
hearings, performed guerilla theater, and
engaged the people of Washington, D.C. in
a continuous dialogue. On Friday, 1100
vets returned the medals they had been
awarded by the government for military
service. This was the final break, and
the return of the medals signified the
ultimate act of revulsion for what these
medals stood for.
The summer of 1971 saw a general lull
in anti - war activity the country over.
VVAW began to move in a new direction —
into our communities. We began the
process of learning that the war was only
a symptom, that as long as the American
economic structure could profit from the
exploitation of working and third people
at home and around the world, wars like
Vietnam would continue. During all of
this, however, we did not forget about the
war. Christmas, 1971, found 16 members of
VVAW holding the Statue of Liberty
captive. The war was again front page
news.
WAV took part in actions at both the
Democratic and Republican conventions.
Our demonstrations there were both legal
and peaceful. We went to Miami Beach with
the people's most dangerous weapon, the
truth—and to prevent the people from
hearing that truth, the government had to
use spies, infiltrators, and agents to
provoke violence.
When Coronation (inauguration) Day 1973
arrived, VVAW again returned to
Washington. Over 5000 people strong, we
marched, signed the 9 - point peace
agreement with the Vietnamese people, and
returned to our communities.
The signing of the peace treaty by our
government has left us with no illusions
about the future. We were the sailors in
the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964, and there were
brothers and sisters in the military today
who may well be participants in a future
Gulf of Tonkin incident. We have learned
that only a radical change in the system
of this country,can possibly prevent the
wars of the future.
As we learned what was behind the
Vietnam War, and as we went into our
communities to work, we found people who
agreed with our objectives but who were
not veterans (though all Americans are in
fact Vietnam veterans). To broaden our
base of membership, we added "Winter